Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-16


hardly believe it possible that the sprinc
Will pass without war, but dOnot think
there will be Franco-Gcrman war
! this year Sooner or later such Il war
must come.
BULGARIA THE BUGABOO.
"Ihc whole matter hinges on the
Eastern qucstion-in other words, on
Bulgaria. | have never known time,
except, perhaps, last spring and last
autumn, when we seemed nearer war or
when the excitement and tension in the
military circles of Europe were so great
| Ny impression is that we are threatened
with an Austro-Russian struggle. IN
Which England, Italy, and the Balkan
States may join. Germany may also be
dragged in, for she cannot afford to see
Austria even seriously weakened, far
less crushed. And if Germany inter
yeucs France would be on her back in
am instant.
RUssIA's ARMY.
"What chance DO you think Austria
would have single handled against Rus
Fif+ = ANiAAiiiA' We
Standing single handed think she
would be beaten
" Has the Russian army improved 50
much them"
"1he discipline in the Russian army
is admirable The soldiers are blindly
olcdieut The Russian artillery is nu-
mcrically strong. if the Russian gun
ucrs are inferior to the German. The
Russian cavalry is numerous and easily
modified. For al that it is not 50
formidable as people make out. "
RATHER a LARGE ORDER.
"Could Germany, in your opinion,
sustain war alone with France and Rus
sia 2"
The German army is in n magniti-
cent condition and ready to cope sue
ccssfully with any other one Power.
To expect it to hold its own single
handed against its two most powerful
neighbors is unfair, and if Europe
mean Austria, England and Italy
ever allowed Germany to be crushed
they would amply deserve to be crushed
in turn, as assuredly they would be.
Gcrmany's strength Is q necessity for
poace-loying Europe.
GERMANY's FRONTIER GARRIsONs.
"Is it true that the German galTisons
ON the Polish frontier are being
Strengthened"
"lf they are not strengthened al
ready they viii certainly be when the
army bill passes. There is some appre-
hcusion here lest the Russian cavalry
should invade Silcsia and the adjoining
provinces. They would, however, soon
have their roads blocked by the Ger
man infantry, against which they would
bee poWTloss.'
"What of the French reports that
the Germans are massing enormous
forces in Alsacc-LorTainc?
They are exaggerated. The only
forces on the French frontier available
for immediate service are the Fifteenth
army corps, which is on peace foot
ing and about thirty thousand strong,
End the FouItccuth Baden army corps,
which musters about twenty-four thou
sand
MONEY MAREs THE MARE TO GO.
lis not the French artillery superior
to that of Germany?
Yes, both in numbers and calibre.
The Germans are quite alive to the fact
and appreciate its seriousness. In the
next war artillery will no doubt be a
most important factor On a peace
footing the French have six batteries to
Gcrmany's four-a great advantage.
It's all question of money. Germany
can't afford more, and hear from Ger
man officers that even If the army bill
passes they will not increase the
strength or number of their batteries.
As set off | think the German gunners
are better trained, better marksmcn,
and better disciplined. Discipline is
the great strength Of Germany; want Of
discipline the great weakness of the
French. So long as their enemies lack
discipline the Germans will not fear
them.
MELINIrE.
"But have not the French another
in this wonderful explosive
they have discOvercd-melinite ~
Certainly. The Germans are quite |
alive to that, too but, cl1trc nous, it
would not surprise me if they had dis
covered something very similar them
selves. -
"Do you think Russia would venture
a movement in Central Asia this |
spring :"
Ono; she viii have her hands full |
with Bulgaria. There may be 100000 |
Russian troops in Central Asia, but |
hardly $4,000 would reach India when |
they had done with Afghanistan.
THE SICK MANS AILNtENT.
"What do you suppose the Grand |
Turk would do in the event Of war;"
"Oh, temporize as usual and go in
when compelled to with any Power that
dipped the proper amount Of money |
nto his hand.
eff am not mistaken, l said, "the
ceiling toward France here is less bitter
han toward Russia. The Germans
eem willing TO let France alone if she
loes not worry them, but would be
ather glad of pretext for going for
russia ?"
Yes | think that is so.
"And when do you suppose war
would break out, if it does break ont p"
about May. The Russians could
lardly move earlier.
4